There aren't many two-time New England Champion wrestlers in WPI
history. Roland Marquis was one in the mid-1980s and proved to be
one of coach Phil Grebinar's all-time best.
Roland won the New England Wrestling Championship as an
individual in the 126-pound weight class in 1984 and 1985. As a
result, he competed at the NCAA Division III Championships each of
those years.
But there's much more: The WPI record books show that Roland
Marquis won 49 dual-meet matches-the fourth highest in WPI history.
His 49-3 record produced an outstanding .942 winning percentage-one
that remains second best today.
He finished 13-1 in 1983, a year in which he placed second at
the New Englands. In 1984 he finished 13-1, and one the New
Englands. In his senior year, he finished 17-0 and again won the
New Englands.
"Roland Marquis was as dominating a wrestler as there could be
in New England in those years," says Grebinar, "as evidenced by his
competing in the New England finals three straight seasons. His was
an intimidating presence, not only because of his ability, but
because of his trademark face mask.
"He was a quiet guy," adds Grebinar, "but he was a tremendous
leader by example. Everyone looked up to Roland because of his
continuing success."
Roland Marquis is still a success today. He is the refueling
facilities manager at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery,
Maine. His job is to maintain all the facilities within the
shipyard that refuel nuclear reactors on submarines. He and his
wife, Dianne, and their children, Brianna and Roland III, live in
Durham, New Hampshire.
For his outstanding achievements, it is a great privilege to
induct Roland Marquis into the WPI Athletic Hall of Fame.
